MTC MainStage Announces 2007/2008 Season in Westport

MTC MainStage, Music Theatre of Connecticut's Professional Equity Acting Company, is proud to announce the 2007/2008 MainStage season. Between December 2007 and April 2008, MTC MainStage will present three fully-staged professional productions "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," "Edges: A Song Cycle" and "The Last Five Years." Performances will take place in the one-of-a-kind Off-Broadway-style 50-seat studio, providing the audience with an intimate theatregoing experience. MTC MainStage is located at 246 Post Road East in Colonial Green (Lower Level) in Westport, CT. For a 2007/2008 MainStage brochure, to subscribe, or for more information, call MTC at 203.454.3883 or visit www.MTCMainStage.org

"MTC MainStage has been producing since it was founded twenty years ago," says Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors. "We were initially at venues in Fairfield and Westport until we settled down at our space in Colonial Green. For the past few years we've been co-producing with other venues, and one of the lessons learned from these co-productions was the importance in maintaining our own identity. And through recent renovations to our space in Westport, we came to realize what a treasure we had right here in our own backyard."

"Last year, the public spaces and rehearsal studio got a facelift, and the current focus is the theatre space," says Managing Director Jim Schilling. "This one-of-a-kind Off-Broadway-style 50-seat studio will be getting complete makeover including a major technical upgrade including a new lighting system to enhance each production team's capabilities."

"MTC MainStage feels a strong commitment to provide theatre to lifelong fans as well as the next generation," says Connors. "The face of musical theatre is changing. One way to educate new audiences is to show them that theatre is more than the Rodgers and Hammerstein standards, as wonderful as they are. All three productions of the MTC MainStage 2007/2008 season are from new, innovative writers."

"It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play"
Adapted for the Stage by Joe Landry and directed by MTC MainStage Executive Artistic Director co-founder, Kevin Connors, "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" runs December 14-23, 2007. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. This unique adaptation has enjoyed critically-acclaimed productions around the country. "Brilliant!" says "Time Out" Magazine, "BackStage" Magazine calls it "Amazing!" and The Chicago Sun-Times calls it "One of the best holiday shows around. Fresh and inventive. Highly recommended."

"Edges: A Song Cycle"
With words & Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, recipients of the 2007 prestigious Jonathan Larson Award, "Edges: A Song Cycle" runs February 1-17, 2008. Inspired by such classic works as "Jacques Brel…", "Edges" is a hip, young and exciting collection of songs linked by theme. Filled with music ranging from pop to gospel, intimate solos and high-spirited group numbers, we follow four young adults as each attempts to discover their true potential. "Overflowing with talent and humor…" says "Miami Hurricane" and "BroadwayWorld" calls it "Impressive and well-crafted…"

"The Last Five Years"
With words and Music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown "The Last Five Years" runs April 4-13, 2008. This emotionally powerful and intimate musical recounts the five year relationship of Cathy and Jaime, whose courtship, marriage and ultimate break-up are told with one character moving chronologically forward and the other moving backward. The timing of the two stories intersects but once, on their wedding day. Hailed as "one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim" (Philadelphia Inquirer), Jason Robert Brown's other musicals include "Songs for a New World", "Parade", "Urban Cowboy" and "13". The AP says "The Last Five Years" is "Brimming with persistent melodies, thoughtful lyrics and a heartfelt, compelling story..."

See Three Shows for $90
Subscriptions to the MTC MainStage 2007/2008 Season are currently available, and allow theatregoers to experience all three productions at a substantial savings off single ticket prices. Individual tickets will go on sale one month prior to each production.

For more information on the MTC MainStage subscription, call 203.454.3883 or visit www.MTCMainStage.org





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Image: MTC MainStage Managing Director Jim Schilling and Executive Artistic Director Kevin Connors.
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Image: MTC MainStage 2007/2008 Season, featuring "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," "Edges: A Song Cycle" and "The Last Five Years."
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